Mission San Jose’s basketball team has made history this season.
The team proved its grit in regular season games as they overcame teams that they had lost to previously in the season including James Logan and Newark Memorial.
Once the Mission Warriors qualified for the Division IV North Coast Section playoffs, the team held onto that grit. With each game the team fought their way to a win with only a few points when battling Tamalpais, Jesse M. Bethel and San Marin High Schools.
The championship game on Feb. 27 was against Rohnert Park’s Rancho Cotate High School. Ending the first quarter at a seven-point deficit, the Warriors bounced back in the second quarter and finished the game with a 46-40 win.
On Thursday, March 5, the Mission San Jose boys’ basketball team got on the court once again to fight in the CIF Division V Championship Tournament.
After a bye-round, the Warriors went head on into the second round of the tournament against Oroville High School. With a home court advantage, the Fremont team had the bleachers filled with supporters.
Photos by agneswhite_photography
From the jump ball, Mission sprang into action. With their strategic passes, they were able to find pockets out of the Oroville’s defense, seizing opportunities at the basket.
Not only was their offense strong, but in defensive plays, the Warriors dominated in the first two quarters, leaving the court buzzing with a 37-21 lead at halftime.
In the third quarter, the Warriors’ momentum slipped. With more pressure from Oroville, Mission was unable to complete plays or passes, allowing Oroville to inch closer to the Warriors. In the fourth quarter, with free throws for the Warriors, they were inched away from Oroville creating a safe cushion of points ending with a final score of 56-46.
Thursday’s win sent them into the regional semifinals on Saturday, March 7, against Weed High School. On Saturday, Mission San Jose fought for a secure start with a 22-9 in the first quarter from multiple three-pointer and free-throw opportunities.
In the second quarter, Weed began to complete more plays scoring 17 points while Mission trailed slightly behind at 14 but still leading on the scoreboard at halftime with 36-26.
Weed High School began to dominate in the third quarter making 22 points and ending with a lead of 48-45. In the final quarter the pressure was on both teams. It was anybody’s game as they began with only a three-point differential.
Throughout the quarter both teams had an even scoring rhythm keeping only a few points distance before the final buzzer.
Mission worked overtime to keep Weed from overcoming the scoreboard and their defense prevailed, ending the game at 62-58.
With the win, Mission San Jose punched their ticket to the CIF Division V State Championship regional finals on Tuesday, March 10, on their home court against San Marin High School.
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